Exercise can aid recovery after breast cancer

9th June 2014

Research, published in the journal Cancer, has suggested that recovery after breast cancer can be aided by exercise.

The American study measured the pre- and post-diagnosis exercise levels of 1,735 women from North Carolina, aged 20-74. It found that only a third of those women who had experienced breast cancer met the physical activity guidelines.

These guidelines in the US and the UK state that adults are recommended to do 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity each week.

Outcome of study

UK campaigners said women needed to do more.

A spokesperson from Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: "Physical activity after a breast cancer diagnosis has been shown to improve a patient's chances of survival and there is also some evidence that it may help to reduce the risk of [it] returning.

"Keeping active may also help patients cope, both during and after treatment, by improving general health and wellbeing.

"Although this study was conducted in American rather than the UK, the results suggest that women who have received a breast cancer diagnosis need better support to keep active."